Miquelon.org – The Fighting French

“Republican House suffers its first defection…and it’s Rep. Walter Jones, Jr. (NC). The man responsible for the French-baiting “freedom fries” fiasco [has] evolved into a thoughtful conservative critic of foreign warmongering, marking his most high profile departure from Republican orthodoxy. It was notable because his Eastern North Carolina district has the largest number of active military family constituents in the nation.”

Jones has since expressed regret for the “freedom fries” incident, and has become a vocal anti-war Republican.

Read more about Water Jones’ defection, Freedom Fries

Following yesterday’s meeting at the White House between American President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a wave of indignation has arisen in the United Kingdom over Obama’s latest remarks. By declaring France America’s greatest ally, not only are we lights years away from the days of French Bashing by the Bush / Cheney administration, the comments are likely to renew anti-French sentiment on the right of the American political spectrum.

More :

• President Obama Meets with President Sarkozy – WhiteHouse.gov
• British Reaction to Obama’s declaration
  • UK FURY AS PRESIDENT OBAMA COSIES UP TO FRANCE
  • France is our biggest ally, declares Obama: President’s blow to Special Relationship with Britain
  • America’s real special relationship

In December of 2009, we asked Karl Rove via twitter if his office had sent out anti-French talking points to the media. The former Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush replied with a terse NO. While we appreciate having a reply we can add to the public record, needless to say we don’t believe Mr Rove.

A little movie by Cédric Villain. Available in English and in French. The most obvious of stereotypes we’ve been battling here for years is regrettably absent from this animation.

Miquelon.org supports the Turn Off Fox campaign.

“Many of us already know that Fox News is biased — but it’s actually much worse than that. For years they have used lies, distortions, and race-baiting to divide this country. Recently, it’s gotten downright dangerous. Earlier this summer, a heavily armed man got into a gun fight with police after he was pulled over on his way to kill people at the Tides Foundation — an obscure non-profit that Glenn Beck regularly demonizes on his Fox News TV show.

Fox News is bad news for America — and it spreads, and is legitimized, partly through TVs in public places. That’s why I’ve joined the TurnOffFox campaign — the first part of a larger campaign to diminish the influence of Fox. It’s about educating people about Fox and getting it turned off in stores, restaurants, and other public places.”

Read more at TurnOffFox.com

World soccer can whip up a nationalist frenzy like nothing else. This is also a time when French Bashing becomes popular in many circles; sports writers and commentators for instance. This year will be no exception if France qualifies for the next rounds. wins, loses or … does anything at all really.

A reminder of things past:

• In 2006, even in Canada, we had to contend with snide comments from George Stroumboulopoulous (who never apologized) and Bob Magee at CHFI (who apologized graciously).
• In 1998, France’s win against Brazil marked the beginning of a new wave of surrender jokes in America including Letterman’s Top Ten: “Top Ten Signs France Is Celebrating Their Soccer Victory: 8. Surrendering to Germany.”